FEBRUARY SONG ~ It's Time for Tea!

...  and wisdom comes quietly ...

Wisdom is knowing what to do next and virtue is doing it!

THE NEW DAY IS AWAKE AND IT'S TIME FOR A CUPPA ... FILLED WITH JOY & CONTENTMENT!

                                                                                                                  It's a beautiful month and the garden is filled with dashes of red blooming flowers in all shades! I guess, it would be a perfect day to have a cuppa Rose Tea in the Garden!



IT'S TIME ONCE AGAIN FOR TEA, LET'S PICK YOUR FAVOURITE CUP

THE KETTLE IS JUST BEHIND YOU

 ... WE'LL MEET ... IN THE GARDEN! 

  Rose Petal Tea can be made from rose hips or rose petals. This tea has a lightly floral taste with a slightly tangy flavor. A very elegant tea to serve for your afternoon and it's perfect with jam and biscuits!

~ Rose Petal Tea ~

  Ingredients ~

 2 cups fresh fragrant rose petals (about 14 ~ 16 large roses)*
3 cups water
Honey or granulated sugar to your taste buds! 

Preparation ~

Clip and discard bitter white bases from the rose petals; rinse petals thoroughly and pat dry with a soft cloth.
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, place the prepared rose petals. Cover with water and bring just to a slow simmer; let simmer for approximately 5 minutes, or until the petals become discolored (darkened).

Remove from heat and strain the hot rose petal liquid into your favourite teacups. Add honey or sugar to taste.

Cuppa Rose Tea makes 4 servings.

~ Tips for Making Rose Petal Tea ~

Use roses that are free of pesticides. If you collect rose hips or use roses for crafting, this may not be difficult. If you don't have pesticide free roses this year, a couple of your most fragrant varieties for next year and use organic protection methods to make them available for culinary use (that way you can make rose wine, too!)

Blown blooms (fully mature flowers) that haven't browned will make the most flavorful tea petals!

Rose petals dry quickly if you're using a heat source, so watch them closely to make sure they don't scorch. They should be "shatter" dry, but not brown. In a dehydrator, they just take a couple of hours to dry completely (in a single layer).

The most fragrant rose varieties typically make the best tea.

Although you can use any color of rose, you may find that sticking with a single color or color range makes the most visually appealing tea especially if you're giving rose tea as a gift ~It indeed makes a lovely gift!

 

The scented Rose Tea cuppa is ready!

I took a breeze towards the garden terrace with my aromatic cuppa tea ... cherished moments of the brand new day to enjoy the morning sun ... the freshness of the new earth and the gift of life through the rose scented air all around me! As I looked up, I saw a string of colourful birds looking down at me, gliding from one pine tree to another ... 'happy as a bird' waltzing with full of delight! Blew my sky greetings to them ... 'buon giorno' as I took a sip of my specially brewed tea! Amazingly a beautiful red feathered 'winged friend' peeped from the wide spread pine branches ... caught my eyes and it was truly a magnificient sight to have a glimpse of the 'madre'

  gliding with all 'her' heart and soul to build 'her' lil' castle for the arrival of 'her' 'crowning glory'! I knew that my 'winged friend' was here to greet me this dawn with a thought for me to ponder for the rest of the day!

 I continued watching 'her' 'waltzing' ...  wow! 'She' was about to 'paint' 'her' masterpiece on the skyhigh tree top! My 'winged friend' carefully picked 'her' choice of best twigs, fresh leaves as the veins of dried leaves would be stiff and brittle ...  fresh ones made 'her' 'artwork' easier!  'She' then continued 'her' 'waltz' by collecting soft fallen feathers to cushion the final touch of 'her' 'piece of art!' 'She' began 'her' first 'shade'  by tying the leaf fibers around the twig of the tree. 'Her' precious feet held down one end of the strip against the twig while taking the other end in 'her' beak. To prevent the fibers from falling apart, 'she' weaved them together into 'her' own 'tapestry'!

Slowly 'her' masterpiece created a circular shape that formed the entrance to the nest ~ 'door of faith' ~ I thought. Soon after, 'she' used 'her' beak to weave the other twigs together and during this process, 'she' had to envisage the required grip to hold 'her' nest together and to be able to visualize the finished structure ~ wisdom ~ I thought.

  Once'she' finished weaving the 'door of faith', 'she' continued to complete the interior of 'her' 'castle.' I was awed as I watched 'her' hanging upside down as 'she' placed 'her' final touch working from the inside of the 'art piece' and 'her' mission accomplished to a stunning weaving 'castle' called 'FOR BIRDS ONLY!' 

Watching the splendor of my 'winged friend', it captured my heart to embrace the enormous Gift of Love, Faith, Courage, Hope & Enduring Strength through the simplicity of God's blessings! 

The True Essence of LoVe  ~ lies neither in the giving nor in the receiving. LoVe is simply what overflows out of the heart that is full of peace. The heart that is full of peace ultimately begins to glow and overflow. And the heart full of peace cannot help but do this ~ for this is the essence of inner peace which radiates and become more than we can ever be!

As we continue to radiate peace from within there is a reflection of giving, since others can share in the peace. Amazingly, as peace continues there is a reflection of receiving, because you are receiving the heart of the world through everyone and everything!

The epitome of love derives from love for self, love within, unconditional love. Love for self nurtures the growth of wisdom and fosters the principle of truth. Let's plant seeds to embrace the true essence of love and most importantly to cherish the Gift of Life! 

Love is never tired of waiting, love is kind, love has no envy, love has no high opinion of itself, love has no pride.

  Corinthians 13 : 4 ~ 7 

Goes without saying that the True Essence of Love surpasses all understanding!

New Dawn ... enfolds!

with a thanksgiving heart

... and wisdom comes quietly ...

As you embrace the glimpse of the New Dawn 2013 ... may your today be one of those amazing and meaningful times you'll always remember, a time when HOPE is restored and PEACE renewed and may you find comfort knowing that each day you wake up is another way you have been given to do with as you wish! 

The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3 : 22 ~23

As you enjoy each cuppa, in this brand New Year 2013 altitude, let it be filled with sprinkles of JOY to the brim!

A Cuppa Christmas Blessing with a spoonful of joy* and a dollop of peace*!

and wisdom comes quietly ...

Remembering a beautiful season of sharing and giving enfolds from the gift

of the month of December!

As I looked up the skyline from the garden ... and there, I gazed upon the multitude of stars sparkling from the crown high above, the amazing handiwork from 'The Painter of the sky'! The * was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise. Matthew 2 : 1 ~ 10.

Let us continue to hear the a soft twinkling sound of the bells knowing that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it will ring mankind to the fold. The bell carries the meaning of guidance and return to a safe resting place under God's shelter.             

Matthew 18 : 12 ~ 14.

There is no better time than now, it is now, this very CHRISTmas Season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to change from within for the better! Let it be a time that lights the eyes of all those around us and puts joy in their hearts. Let it be a time for lifting the lives of those who are in need. Let it be a time for calling our families and our communities together, for feeling of peace to those who are near to us and peace also to those who are absent. Let it be a time for forgiving and letting go.

Let it be a time of prayers for faith, for the preservation of unity, and for the blessings of those who are far from us. Let it be a time of forgetting self and finding time for others. Let it be a time for discarding the meaningless and for embracing the true values of life. Let it be a time of peace because we have found peace in His presence.

Most of all, let it be a time to remember the birth of our Beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men!

As you enjoy your cuppa this Christmas season, may the spirit of love which comes at Christmas time fill your homes and your lives and linger there long after this season is over and may it continue on as Christmas can be felt everyday if we open the Door of Faith to the gift of life!

  

Christmas Cheers!

  

AFTER THE RAIN!

... and wisdom comes quietly ...

C'est la vie! Yes ... it's time to catch up and guess what? ... the wind direction is showing the right altitude for a cuppa! Scuzi, as I was hoping to meet at the garden a little sooner but it's been raining over here ... so I decided to look out from my window and continue to embrace the beauty from a far in as many ways as possible ... amazingly it looked and felt as magnificent! I took these moments to thank God for the showers of rain as it brought freshness and newness of life to nature and filled the ground with showers of blessings! It was poignantly timely and it solidified this idea for me.

    "If you want to experience the rainbow, you have to embrace the rain".

Rain is grace; rain is the sky decending to the earth; without rain, there will be no life.

John Updike



Tea. Garden. Tea.

Does a good morning need anything else? As the dawn mets the sunrise, I made my way to a resting place of sentiments carrying along my faithful pen knowing that my garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts! 

  These words from the Book of Life* came to mind, " What is the Kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? Imagine a person who has taken a mustard seed and planted it in the garden. The seed has grown and become like a small tree, so that the birds of the air shelter in it's branches." Luke 13 : 18-19. To know His enduring presence in every raindrop was comforting! So here I'm back again ... after the rain.

Watching the beauty of every raindrop resting on the flower petals and leaves soon after the rainfall was amazing! The ray of sunlight radiated a tinge of sparkle on every drop of rain leaving behind the spectrum of rainbow colour reflections from the surroundings!   

Enjoying Haven on Earth* in the coolness of the dawn and a carpet filled flower petals on the ground left behind after the gentle blowing winds. Need I ask for more! 

 The Wheel of Life is always turning. I began to understand  the idea that although we may have rough times and while the climb may seem challenging to reach, it is during those moments we are at the bottom of the wheel. As the wheel is constantly turning, it does mean that we will inevitably be in one particular spot but in just a matter of time, we will be back up at the top of the wheel again, experiencing fulfillment and wholesomeness in our lives. The rainbow will follow the rain of hope!

There is just so many things to talk about and since I've been on and on and on about a cuppa, I was wondering if it would be nice to talk about  ... Tea Truths!


TEA TRUTHS!

~ tea leaves. tea loves. loves tea. lives tea. leaves tea? never. ~

Tea types
While all tea leaves come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, they are processed differently to obtain distinct types of teas. Once plucked, tea leaves wilt and darken by a process that is known as oxidation. Depending on the amount of oxidation tea leaves undergo, four main categories of teas are obtained: black, green, oolong, and white.

Black tea
Black tea is made from leaves that are fully oxidised. It has a stronger flavour and has higher caffeine content than the other types of teas, which undergo less oxidation. Unlike other teas, black tea stores well and retains its flavour over many years. Black tea is the most popular tea in the West and in India.

Green Tea

Green tea considered 'true' tea, is made from leaves that have undergone the least amount of oxidation. The brew is light yellow and has a subtle astringent flavour. It is believed to be healthier than black tea because of its high anti-oxidant content. Medical research suggests that green tea plays a role in preventing heart disease and certain cancers. It is most popular in China and certain other Asian countries, where it is drunk without milk or sugar. Green tea is gaining popularity in the West due to its health benefits.

Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is made from partially oxidised leaves, which places it somewhere between black and green tea. It has a floral or fruity flavour that is less robust than that of black tea, but less grassy than that of green tea. In China, it is traditionally brewed strong and served with meals. Connoisseurs drink it without adding milk, sugar or lemon to retain its delicate flavour!

White Tea
White tea is produced from the buds and new leaves that appear on the tea plant in spring. These are processed using very low heat, without rolling. White tea is often the most expensive type of tea, the more prized varieties being made exclusively from buds. White tea has lower fluoride content, which makes it healthier. Medical research indicates that it has higher antiviral and antibacterial properties than green tea.

*   After water, tea is the most largely consumed beverage in the world!

*   Tea bags were invented in America in the early 1800's and were initially used to hold samples of tea brought from India. Today 96% of all cups of tea served around the world were made using tea bags.

*   Tea is perfect when sipped steaming hot, tea is also one of the most thirst quenching sunny drinks when drunk cold especially with ice and possibly with some lemon, lime or mint leaves to add flavours! 

*   Tea is a natural antioxidant and rich in vitamins.

Keep enjoying every cuppa in whichever altitude you are in ... it's all in how you make it!
Until we meet again, see you soon!
 ~  la veda presto! ~

                       Meet Me At The Garden

... and wisdom comes quietly ...

Book * cuppa tea * hammock * terrace ... You are at the right altitude!

     ... as you take a stroll and enjoy a cuppa tea ~ tazza di te` ~.

~ Welcome to the Garden of Life ~
Benvenuti al Giardino Della Vita

Going down memory lane, I have so much to be thankful for, as I was blessed to spend most my early childhood days at a picturesque and beautifully nestled hilltop ~ Cameron Highlands ~ a true depiction of 'Haven on Earth'. I guess this must be the place that sowed the seeds for my passion in timeless beauty amidst nature. Clad with my sweaters, tube socks and shoes, I recall spending most of my time outdoors, venturing little slopes of green grass and running around the garden of 'Eternal Spring', chasing butterflies and looking out for colourful singing birds amongst the flower garden and shady lush trees! Then came the highlight for the evenings, enjoying my lovely cuppa tea with my favourite home baked vanilla cupcakes and scones with strawberry jam topped with a dollop of cream!

As dusk enfolded, it used to get colder by the hours and I recall spending most of the evenings by the fireplace admiring all the fresh roses picked for the day which was arranged beautifully into vases ... waiting to greet a brand new dawn! The magical scent of the roses filled the air each morning, the aroma left behind spring scents of hundreds of rose petals confetti all around the home!  My evening drives were memorable as most times I used to enjoy the amazing rolling hills of the tea plantations! I recall popping out my head from the car window just to catch a glimpse of the breathtaking view of the verdant valley of the plantation mist covered green slopes of tea bushes! It was an unforgettable and exhilarating experience ... priceless. Each day radiated a personification of a hand painting on a canvas ~ new sunrise, new raindrops, new colours of nature, new smile, new song from the birds in the garden, new dusk and the newness goes on. This amazing hilltop has retained it's magical charm of an Olde' matured and rustic resting place for me until today. My love for the gift of nature and enjoying every moment in the garden has been and will always be a part of me. Thanks to my beloved mum ... a garden lover!

Brand New Dawn!

At the beginning of a brand new dawn, I marvel as nature comes together in perfect harmony!

Serenity in the Garden ~ it gives back more than it receives ~ and so I sat down and started to pen down my thoughts and embraced the fusion between peace and relaxation, the first sense of tranquillity in the stillness of a brand new dawn. If ever I heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the magnificence of the day!

The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses ~ Hanna Rion.  

As you step into a garden you feel a sort of healing and a first sense of peace and tranquility as you leave behind the hustle and bustle of the worldly events that we share all through the day. The sense of entering the doorway of thoughts begin, peace like a feather floating in mid-air!






I look down and marvel as the butterflies rests on the flower buds, watching the bees pollinating the magical wild flowers and squirrels hopping from one branch to another and finally keeps an eye on me whilst cracking open a nut. I see patches of fresh green moss with it's first morning dew resting on a uniquely shaped rock. The aroma of all the flowers fills the air like a spray of scented perfume. I hear the rustling of leaves once in awhile from the Trees of Life ... especially when the wind passes by occasionally.

The distinct aroma of the hot and freshly brewed vanilla tea latte made me pause for a moment ... took a sip and continued on writing with my favourite old fountain pen. Just a thought, tea sounds like one of the beverages that uses all the senses ... sight of the leaf, aroma of the infused liquer and the sound of the kettle whistle! Amazing ... I was there once to experience the beauty of these plantations and the enduring hands that used to endlessly hand pick the tea leaves in the midst of the misty terrain each passing day! And recalling the moments I treasure most, the view that I captured as far as the eyes can see ... and today this cuppa tea means much more than it ever did!

See you soon! ~ la veda presto! ~ whenever you are at the same altitude again, meet me at the garden. Anytime, is a good time for a   ...

 Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day!  



KEEP LOOKING AHEAD ……… TOWARDS THE BRIDGE OF FAITH!

 

 “Men are building too many walls and not enough bridges”.

 

…. and wisdom comes quietly ….

I had this image of a bridge, how beautiful and majestic it can get! Yes, certainly it is true that God is faithful and that plank by plank He has built many good reasons for me to forego situations that create walls around me, and yet many times I land up becoming my own ‘building contractor’ by running to tomorrow’s concerns.  And here I go again! …. Bend out of shape over the nick of the wood I just crossed yesterday!  It’s never too late to look back and see the bridge for what it was …. a path for me to recognize and change. Remember, God is faithful and is still waiting.

Sharing thoughts about walls and bridges ….. in a glimpse of the eye, it is obvious that we cannot see far beyond when a wall stands right in front of us and on the contrary a bridge allows us to capture a connection far beyond our imagination. Indeed, walls are usually built to separate two or more entities physically, mentally, or even spiritually and to create obstacles. They are built because they represent the idea of defense, protection, or separation. Some walls have acquired fame because of that nature: the walls of Jerusalem, the Great Wall of China, the Wall of Berlin. Walls, as a symbol, are also used in our common vocabulary to reflect this idea of separation, as in “a wall of incomprehension,” “a wall of intolerance“ or “it is like talking to a brick wall!”

Bridges are the opposite of walls. Bridges are built to bring together, to join two or more entities, and to create unity. They are built to overcome obstacles. Some bridges have also become famous, like the Bridge of Sighs, the Allenby Bridge, and so many others. The term is also used in our language to express the idea of reunion or unity, as in “to bridge a gap” or “to bridge differences.”

How do we build such a bridge of faith?

There was a young man living in a city called Namur in Belgium, there flow a large river separating it from an adjacent city on the other side of the river. At that time, only one bridge connected the two cities. It had been built and rebuilt over the remnants of a bridge built centuries before by the Roman conquerors. It had become too narrow for the traffic, and there were too many small arches to allow the passage of large boats and barges. A new bridge was necessary, wider and with only one arch. The work to establish the foundations soon started on both sides of the river. Rapidly, two huge metallic arms began to stretch from each side with the aim to meet together in the middle of the river. He was fascinated by the engineering and rode his bicycle almost every day to watch the progress of the work. Finally the day came when the centerpiece, a cornerstone made of steel, was going to link the two arms together. Crowds were now watching with him the delicate operation, the final step that would join the two arms together and permit crossing the bridge for the first time. When it took place, people applauded, workers embraced; the obstacle of the river had been conquered and overcome.

Bridging the gap is one of the greatest blessings to life. It builds bridges instead of walls. It finds ways to healing instead of hurt. It seeks ways to build instead of tear down. It looks for ways to encourage instead of disappoint. Bridging the gap reaches out to rise above. It mellows hardness, bends stiffness, warms coldness and smoothens roughness. It is simply, by using this metaphor, to help us build a bridge of faith in our life for crossing and overcoming the walls of unbelief, indifference, fear and other strongholds.

In today’s world, it is so easy to isolate ourselves by erecting temporal, spiritual, and even family or religious walls. Let us instead build more bridges of faith, of reconciliation, and live by the peace that is given “not as the world gives” (John 14:27), but by God. He is the bridge of faith unto eternity.

“Let us all walk uprightly before God” and cross the bridge and no turning back!